Lady Tornados get a home win

Sunday

Nov 30, 2008 at 12:01 AM

BREVARD — Rain was falling from the skies outside Boshamer Gymnasium on the campus of Brevard College on Saturday. Inside the gym, it was raining 3s, as the Tornado women’s basketball team defeated visiting Converse 98-85.

By David PhillipsTimes-News Correspondent

BREVARD — Rain was falling from the skies outside Boshamer Gymnasium on the campus of Brevard College on Saturday. Inside the gym, it was raining 3s, as the Tornado women’s basketball team defeated visiting Converse 98-85.For the game, the Tornados hit 50 percent of their 3-point goals (12-of-24), led by Amber Roberts, who was 5-of-10 from behind the arc. She finished as the BC leading scorer with 25.Amanda Whitaker was 6-of-12 from the field and 7-of-10 from the charity stripe for 19 points.Freshman Holli Flippo hit four treys and three free throws for 15 points.BC season scoring leader Samantha Winn, a former Enka High standout, was below her 15.8 average with 12 points with a trey, two field goals and 5-of-6 from the free throw line.“I liked the way we unselfishly moved the ball around today and found the open shooter,” said first-year Brevard coach Shannon Reid. “We were moving better today without the ball, creating open shots.”Reid said Roberts has been getting better since being moved to a wing position where her outside shooting has been a big plus in the back-to-back wins by the Lady Tornados.Defensively Brevard had trouble stopping the Valkyries’ Kendra Bothof, who finished with 32 points. Several of her points came after BC had built a 20-point second half lead.Converse held a slim lead in the first half, until sophomore Whitaker stole the basketball in the backcourt and drove for a layup to give the Tornados a 15-14 lead with 12:14 left in the half. By intermission, the BC lead had grown to 47-33 as Roberts and Flippo zeroed in from 3-point range.In the second half, the Tornados were up by 20 with 9:38 left to play in the game. They were able to hold off any Converse comeback attempt.“Going in our goal was to win the first half and be more aggressive,” Reid said. “I was pleased with the way we stuck to our game plan and had a good offensive night.”Next Saturday the Tornados dive into South Atlantic Conference (SAC) play as they travel to nationally-ranked (13th in Division II) Tusculum.In men’s action at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena, the Tornados suffered their first loss of the season, falling to unbeaten Belmont-Abbey 60-42.The Tornados (3-1) will travel to Warren Wilson for a 7 p.m. game on Monday.